Dental floss device with a stackable dental floss holder

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to dental floss holders that are attachable to handles for receiving the dental floss holder in releasable frictional engagement, which dental floss holders receiving a dental floss holder in releasable frictional engagement, include a length of dental floss secured between the distal ends of arms extending from the base of the holder, to stacks of such floss holders, and to packaged stacks of such floss holders.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a dental floss device including a handlehaving a head portion, and a stackable dental floss holder. The dentalfloss holder releasably attaches to the head portion of the handle byreleasable engagement means. The releasable engagement means includesindentations and protrusions on both the dental floss holder and thehead portion of the handle. The arrangement of the indentations andprotrusions on the dental floss holder makes the dental floss holderstackable. Preferably, the dental floss comprises snap fitting means forenhancing the securement of the dental floss holder to the head portionof the handle.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Dental floss devices having removable dental floss holders or cartridgesare known in the art. The devices generally include a handle with a headportion designed to receive and hold a dental floss holder. In use, thedental floss holder is attached to the head portion and the floss isinserted between teeth. After a number of teeth have been cleaned withthe floss, the dental floss holder is removed and replaced with a newdental floss holder.

Replacement dental floss holders are typically packaged and sold in lotsof ten or twenty units. The process for making dental floss holderstypically involves injection molding of a plurality of holderssimultaneously in a mold into which has been threaded a length of dentalfloss material. The plurality of formed dental floss holders areconnected by a plastic backbone as they come out of the molding step.After being formed and cooled, the dental floss holders are removed fromthe backbone and sent to packaging. Most dental floss holders are notstackable as a result of which they are cumbersome to handle duringpost-molding and packaging operations.

A dental floss device comprising a handle and a non-stackable dentalfloss holder engageable therewith is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,982,the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Non-stackable dental floss holders are more difficult to process andtake up more space in a package than a corresponding number of stackabledental floss holders would take. The provision of a stackable dentalfloss holder would simplify handling during the packaging operation andwould reduce packaging costs. Costs for packaging dental floss holderswould be reduced where the dental floss holders are stackable and arepackaged in stacked form. Therefore, there is a need for a stackabledental floss holder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment, the present invention provides a dental flossdevice comprising a handle having an elongated gripping portion and ahead portion, and a dental floss holder which is adapted to bereleasably connected to the head portion for subsequent use in flossingthe teeth. The dental floss device further comprises releasableengagement means for releasably securing the dental floss holder to thehandle during use. The head portion of the handle extends transverselyof the longitudinal axis of the gripping portion, as a result of whichthe handle has a generally T-shaped configuration. The head portionincludes a generally U-shaped channel for releasably receiving thedental floss holder. The U-shaped channel comprises a floor and twospaced apart walls. A first of the two walls defining the U-shapedchannel comprises at least one protrusion and at least one indentationspaced laterally therefrom. The second of the two walls also comprisesat least one protrusion and at least one indentation spaced laterallytherefrom. The protrusion on the first of the two walls is locatedsubstantially opposite the indentation on the second of the two walls.The indentation on the first of the two walls is located substantiallyopposite the protrusion on the second of the two walls. The dental flossholder has a base portion and a pair of spaced-apart arms extending fromthe base portion to accommodate a length of dental floss therebetween.The base portion comprises a pair of lateral sides. Each lateral sidecomprises at least one protrusion and at least one indentation spacedlaterally therefrom. The protrusion on the first lateral side is locatedsubstantially opposite the indentation on the second lateral side. Theindentation on the first lateral side is located substantially oppositethe protrusion on the second lateral side. The protrusions andindentations on the two walls defining the U-shaped channel of the headportion are sized and arranged to receive in frictional engagement theindentations and protrusions on the lateral sides of the base portion ofthe aforementioned dental floss holder. On assembly, the base of thedental floss holder fits into the transversely extending, generallyU-shaped channel of the head portion of the handle.

Preferably, the spaced-apart arms of the dental floss holder alsoinclude inwardly extending snap fit projections for engagement with theends of the head portion of the handle. Such engagement of the snap fitprojections with the ends of the head portion enhances the degree ofsecurement of the dental floss holder to the head portion of the handle.

In a second embodiment, the present invention provides a stackabledental floss holder comprising a base portion and a pair of spaced-apartarms extending from the base portion. A length of dental floss issecured between the distal ends of the spaced-apart arms. The baseportion comprises a pair of lateral sides. Each lateral side comprisesat least one protrusion and at least one indentation spaced laterallytherefrom. The protrusion on the first lateral side is located oppositethe indentation on the second lateral side. The indentation on the firstlateral side is located opposite the protrusion on the second lateralside. Preferably, the spaced-apart arms include snap fit projections forengagement with the ends of the head portion of a handle.

In a third embodiment, the present invention provides a handlecomprising an elongated gripping portion and a head portion forreleasably receiving a dental floss holder. The head portion of thehandle extends transversely of the longitudinal axis of the grippingportion, as a result of which the handle has a generally T-shapedconfiguration. The head portion includes a generally U-shaped channelfor releasably receiving the above-described dental floss holder. TheU-shaped channel comprises a floor and two spaced apart walls. A firstof the two walls defining the U-shaped channel comprises at least oneprotrusion and at least one indentation spaced laterally therefrom. Thesecond of the two walls also comprises at least one protrusion and atleast one indentation spaced laterally therefrom. The protrusion on thefirst of the two walls is located substantially opposite the indentationon the second of the two walls. The indentation on the first of the twowalls is located substantially opposite the protrusion on the second ofthe two walls. The protrusions and indentations on the two wallsdefining the U-shaped channel of the head portion are sized and arrangedto receive in frictional engagement the indentations and protrusions onthe lateral sides of the base portion of the aforementioned dental flossholder.

The two opposed ends of the head portion receive the aforementioned snapfit projections on the dental floss holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective of one embodiment of a dental flossingdevice in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a dental floss holderin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the dental floss holder of FIG. 2 in releasableengagement with the handle shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 3A is a view taken along view line 3A—3A of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a handle for releasably receiving thedental floss holder of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of the circled portion of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4B is an enlarged fragmentary side view taken along view line 4B—4Bof FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing five of the dental floss holders ofFIG. 2 in stacked form, with a sixth inch dental floss holder inposition to be engaged with said stack;

FIG. 5A is a cross-section taken along line 5A—5A of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The handle and stackable dental floss holder comprising the dental flossdevice of the present invention may be made of any suitable materialsknown in the art. Suitable materials include polymers such as, but notlimited to, acrylics, such as poly methyl methacrylate; polyolefins,such as polyethylene and polypropylene; polyesters, such aspolycaprolactone; co-polyesters; polycarbonate; and mixtures thereof.

The handle and dental floss holder may be made of the same material ordifferent materials. Preferably, the handle is made of a material thatis harder than the material from which the dental floss holder(exclusive of the dental floss material) is made. In a preferredembodiment, the handle is made from a co-polyester resin and the dentalfloss holder (exclusive of the dental floss material) is made from apolypropylene resin.

The handle and stackable dental floss holder of the present inventionmay be made by any suitable process known in the art. Injection moldingis preferred.

The dental floss holder retains a length of dental floss for cleaningbetween teeth. Any dental floss material known in the art may be used inthe dental floss holder of the present invention. The dental flossmaterial may be a monofilament or a multi-filament yarn comprising aplurality of such monofilaments.

Dental flosses in the form of a multi-filament yarn are generallycircular in cross section and typically have a denier ranging from about200 to about 1400. The denier of the individual fibers typically rangesfrom about 1 to about 6, although other deniers may be used in somecircumstances if desired.

Psuedo-monofilament yarns may also be used as dental floss material inthe present invention. Pseudo-monofilament yarns are made by extrudingbi-component fibers comprising a core of one polymer and a sheath of adifferent polymer, then either partially or totally melting the sheathsof the fibers to bond or fuse the fibers, resulting in a monofilamentlook and feel. One example of a suitable bicomponent fiber for makingpseudo-monofilament yarn is a core of nylon 6 with a sheath of Pebax®brand polyether/amide copolymer. Other materials besides nylon can beused for the core of the bicomponent fibers and other polymericmaterials besides polyether/amide copolymer may be used as the sheathmaterial.

Other dental floss materials which may be used in the present inventioninclude, but are not limited to, nylon 6-6, nylon 6, polypropylene,polyethylene, high molecular weight polyethylene, ultra high molecularweight polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, and the like materials.Combinations of such materials may also be used. Ultra high molecularweight polyethylene is a preferred dental floss material.

The individual monofilaments comprising a multifilament dental flossyarn may, if desired, be air entangled. If the yarn is air entangled,the air entanglement nodes may be from about 1.25 cm to about 8.9 cmapart. One type of air entangled yarn is described in U.S. Pat. No.5,908,039, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

As is known in the art, the dental floss may be twisted. If the dentalfloss is twisted, it is preferable to have less than 6 turns per 2.54cm, and more preferably less than 5 turns per 2.54 cm.

As is known in the art, the dental floss may be coated with waxes,flavorants, active ingredients, and the like.

In one process of manufacturing dental floss holders, dental floss isfed through a multi-cavity mold and plastic is then injected into themold to form the holders. After completion of the injection moldingstep, the floss may then be cut and tied at the ends.

Alternatively, the ends of the floss material may be heated to formspheres which retain the floss material in place. Manufacturing methodsof this type are known in the art and can be used for making dentalfloss holders of the present invention. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No.4,006,750; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,016,892 and 5,086,792, the teachings of allof which are herebyf incorporated by reference.

The floss in the dental floss holder as made and before insertion into ahandle typically has some slack. In use, it is preferred that the dentalfloss be taut. This is illustrated in FIG. 2, where W illustrates thewidth of the dental floss holder as made and W1 illustrates the slightlylarger width of the dental floss holder when engaged with handle 10shown in FIG. 1. The relationship between the snap fit projections onthe dental floss holder and the ends of the head portion may be arrangedto make the floss material taut when the dental floss device isassembled for use. Specifically, the length of the head portion of thehandle is sized so that when the dental floss holder is secured in theU-shaped channel of the head portion and the snap fit projections on thearms of the dental floss holder are engaged with the ends of the headportion, the distance between the arms of the dental floss holder isincreased, thus making the floss material taut. Typically, this distanceranges from about 0.005 inch to about 0.06 inch, preferably from about0.01 inch to about 0.02 inch.

Examples are provided below to further illustrate the dental flossholder, the handle and the dental floss device of the present invention.The invention should not be construed as being limited to the specificdetails set forth herein.

EXAMPLE 1 Handle

A handle in accordance with the teachings of the present invention wasmade from a commercially available co-polyester resin by an injectionmolding process. The co-polyester resin had a notched Izod value of 80joules/m. Referring now to the appended drawings, handle 10 comprises anelongated gripping portion 11 and a head portion 12 at its distal end.Head portion 12 extends transversely of the longitudinal axis ofgripping portion 11, as a result of which handle 10 has a generallyT-shaped configuration. Head portion 12 includes a generally U-shapedchannel (best seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B) for releasably receiving a dentalfloss holder of the type described hereinabove and in Example 2. TheU-shaped channel comprises a convex floor 14 and two spaced apart walls,16 and 18. First wall 16 comprises a protrusion 16A and an indentation16B spaced laterally therefrom as shown in FIG. 4A. Second wall 18defining the U-shaped channel comprises a protrusion 18A and anindentation 18B spaced laterally therefrom. Protrusion 16A on first wall16 is located substantially opposite indentation 18B in second wall 18.Indentation 16B on first wall 16 is located substantially oppositeprotrusion 18A on second wall 18. Protrusions 16A,18A and indentations16B,18B on walls 16,18 are sized and arranged to receive, in releasablefrictional engagement, mating indentations and protrusions on lateralsides 25,26 of base portion 21 of the aforementioned dental floss holder20. See also Example 2 hereinafter. Sides 13, 15 of head portion 12engage snap fit projections 27A,27B of dental floss holder 20 when thedental floss device is assembled and ready for use.

EXAMPLE 2 Stackable Dental Floss Holder

A stackable dental floss holder in accordance with the teachings of thepresent invention was made from a commercially available polypropyleneresin by an injection molding process of the kind mentioned earlierherein. The polypropylene resin had a notched Izod value of 30 joules/m.A multifilament, ultra high molecular weight, polyethylene yarn (400denier, approximately three turns per inch and a denier per filament ofabout 1.9) was used as the dental floss material. As is seen in FIG. 2,stackable dental floss holder 20 comprises a base portion 21 and a pairof spaced-apart arms 22 and 23 extending from the base portion toaccommodate a length of dental floss 24 therebetween. Base portion 21comprises a pair of lateral sides 25,26. Lateral side 25 comprises aprotrusion 25A and an indentation 25B spaced laterally therefrom.Protrusion 25A on first lateral side 25 is located substantiallyopposite indentation 26B on second lateral side 26. The indentation 25Bon first lateral side 25 is located substantially opposite protrusion26A on second lateral side 26. Preferably, the spaced-apart arms includesnap fit projections 27A,27B for engagement with ends 13,15 of headportion 12 of handle 10. This engagement can be best seen in FIG. 3A,where snap fit projections 27A,27B are engaged with the respectivecorners of sides 13,15 of head portion 12. Dental floss 24 is shown inits slack configuration and in its tautened configuration (dot-and-dashlines) in FIG. 2.

EXAMPLE 3 Dental Flossing Device

A dental flossing device was assembled by inserting the stackable dentalfloss holder of Example 2 into the head portion of the handle ofExample 1. The thus-assembled dental flossing device is shown in FIG. 3.The indentations on the dental floss holder receive the protrusions onthe head portion of the handle in releasable, frictional engagement.Correspondingly, the indentations on the head portion of the handlereceive the protrusions on the dental floss holder in releasable,frictional engagement. The snap fit projections 27A,27B on the arms22,23 of dental floss holder 20 are engaged with ends 13,15 (includingthe lower corners of said ends) of the head portion of the handle.

FIG. 5 shows five of the dental floss holders of FIG. 2 in a stack witha sixth such dental floss holder about to be added to said stack. Astack of the dental floss holders, typically 10 or 20 holders to astack, can be packaged, e.g., in plastic wrap, a thermoformed containerwith lid, or the like for subsequent sale.

FIG. 5 a illustrates the manner in which the protrusion and indentationon the base of one dental floss holder (e.g., the right-most holder inthe stack of five) will mate with the indentation and protrusion on anadjacent dental floss holder (e.g., the single dental floss holder inFIG. 5 a)

1. A dental floss holder comprising a base portion integral with andextending between a pair of spaced-apart arms extending from said baseportion; a length of dental floss being secured between the distal endsof said arms; said base portion comprising a first lateral side and asecond lateral side; each lateral side comprising at least oneprotrusion and at least one indentation spaced laterally therefrom,wherein each of said arms comprises a snap-fit projection for engagementwith ends of a head portion of a handle to which said dental flossholder is to be secured.
 2. A dental floss holder according to claim 1wherein said at least one protrusion on said first lateral side isdisposed opposite said at least one indentation on said second lateralside.
 3. A dental floss holder according to claim 1 wherein said atleast one indentation on said first lateral side is disposed oppositesaid at least one protrusion on said second lateral side.
 4. A dentalfloss holder according to claim 1 wherein said at least one protrusionon said first lateral side is disposed opposite said at least oneindentation on said second lateral side and said at least oneindentation on said first lateral side is disposed opposite said atleast one protrusion on said second lateral side.
 5. A plurality ofdental floss holders according to claim 1 in stacked form.
 6. Aplurality of dental floss holders according to claim 1 in stacked formand packaged.
 7. A dental floss holder according to claim 1 which,exclusive of said dental floss, comprises polypropylene.
 8. A dentalfloss holder according to claim 1 wherein said dental floss comprisesmultifilament yarn of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.
 9. Adental floss holder comprising a base portion integral with andextending between a pair of spaced-apart arms extending from said baseportion; a length of dental floss being secured between the distal endsof said arms; said base portion comprising a first lateral side and asecond lateral side; each lateral side comprising at least oneprotrusion and at least one indentation spaced laterally therefrom,wherein said at least one protrusion on said first lateral side isdisposed opposite said at least one indentation on said second lateralside and said at least one indentation on said first lateral side isdisposed opposite said at least one protrusion on said second lateralside, and wherein each of said arms comprises a snap-fit projection forengagement with ends of a head portion of a handle to which said dentalfloss holder is to be secured.
 10. A plurality of dental floss holdersaccording to claim 9 in stacked form.
 11. A plurality of dental flossholders according to claim 9 in stacked form and packaged.
 12. A dentalfloss holder according to claim 9 which, exclusive of said dental floss,comprises polypropylene.
 13. A dental floss holder according to claim 9wherein said dental floss comprises multifilament yarn of ultra highmolecular weight polyethylene.